Neutralizer.



W. S. HADAWAY, In.

NEUTRALIZER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 23. I913.

1,163.656. Ptented D60. 14, 1915.

WITNESSES INVEN TOR MEANS. NW

*WHW MM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. HADAWAY, JR, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

NEUTRALIZER.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. Hana- WAY, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New Rochelle, in the county of VVestchesterand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Neutralizers, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

-My invention relates to meansfor neutralizing or annulling the effectof static electrical charges in belts, paper, cloth and other fabrics asthey are manufactured, printed or otherwise mechanically treated orhandled.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive meansof the aforesaid character for uniformly and effectively neutralizing orannulling the static electric charges therein, without undulyinoistening the fabric in which the charges exist.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for producing atransversely extending medium or atmosphere of conducting vapor thatshall be adapted to act upon or engage the surface of a moving strip offabric and to remove static electrical charges therefrom.

Anothenobject is to provide an electric heating device for producing ahigh temperature relatively dry atmosphere of conducting vapor for thepurpose of neutraliz ing static charges.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be set forthhereinafter.

Referring to the drawingFi-gure l is an elevation in longitudinalsection of a neu- Specification of Letters Patent.

tralizer arranged and constructed in accordance-with' myfinvention. Fig.2 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Apartially sectional elevation of the heating element, which forms a partof the device of Figs. 1 and 2, is shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is apartially diagrammatic view of an electric motor driven apparatusembodying my invention. I

represents a strip of paper or other fabric in section which may besupported in a well known manner, by tapes 11 only one of which isshown.

My invention is not limited in its field of usefulness, to any specificfabric or any particular art, but is particularly useful in con-,nection with continuous printing presses, since static charges are mostfrequently Patented Dec. 14,1915.

Application filed October 23, 1913. Serial No. 796,762.

found in fabrics which are fed rapidly from a supply roll over guidemembers of insulating materials, such for example as linen tapes.

The neutralizer of my invention consists in general, of means forproducing a transverse atmosphere of conducting vapor which acts as acontactor and is adapted to engage the surface of the paper or otherfabric as it travels into the machine from the supply roll.

The device is arranged to not only generate steam very rapidly andeconomically, but also to accomplish a certain amount of super-heatingin order that the conducting vapor may be maintained without moisteningthe fabric to which it is applied, to any appreciable extent, even whenthe fabric is not moving. It is desirable however, to automatically cutoff the supply of energy to the heater whenever the printing press orother machine is stopped. This result may be accomplished by anysuitable means as for example, in a motor-driven machine by connectingthe heater unit to the motor circuit so that the interruption of themotor circuit or the failure of voltage therein for any cause, stops theflow of energy to the heater. This arrangement is shown diagrammaticallyin Fig. 4.

I prefer to utilize the structure illustrated in the drawing, whichcomprises a body of liquid 15 contained in a tank or receptacle 16, anelectric heater 17 supported above the liquid and a plurality of wicks18 which are in contact with the heater and dip into the body of liquid15. The heater 17 has the general form of a rod or bar and extends overthe tank or receptacle transversely of the sheet of fabric 10 in whichthe electrostatic charges are to be neutralized.

While the specific structure of the heater forms no part of my presentinvention, I consider the heater illustrated,particularly desirable.This structure comprises a slotted resistance ribbon 20protected byinsulating strips 22 and 23 and disposed within the sheath 24 of sheetmetal. The terminals 25 and 26 of the heater are supported bv anextension 27 of the sheath and are protected by a cap or casing 28 whichis perforated to i the fabric 10. The wicks do not make contact with thesurface of the fabric, but when electric energy is applied to theresistance element, heat is transferred through the casing to the upperpart of the wicks, and the liquid in the wicks is rapidly vaporized. Thetank or receptacle 16 is provided with a cover 19 which has a centrallongitudinal opening 19 through which the wicks extend, and parallelflange plates l9 which are close to the wicks and force the steam topass upwardly from the lower heated portions of the wicks to the upperportions before rising into contact with the fabric. By this means thesteam is dried and superheated. Instead of a series of wicks, as shownin the drawings, a single broad wick may be employed or a large numberof narrow wicks as desired.

The wicks may becomposed of cotton fabric 'or any other suitablematerial capable of maintaining a capillary action for con tinuouslyconducting the liquid from the body 15 to the heater. In order to avoidaccident in case the liquid in the receptacle is inadvertentlyexhausted, a fire proof material such as asbestos,may be utilized in theconstruction of the wicks.

\Vhile I consider the form of neutralizer illustrated particularlyadvantageous, I believe it is broadly new to provide a high temperatureatmosphere of practically dry conducting vapor in the form of atransverse medium arranged to engage the statically charged surface ofthe moving body, and I desire that only such limitations be imposed asare indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A body of conducting liquid, an electric heater above the surface ofthe liquid, and means for conducting the liquid to be vaporized by theheater to produce an atmosphere or medium adapted to act upon a surfaceof an electro-statically charged moving body.

2 A body of conducting liquid, an electric heater, wicks dipping intothe liquid and influenced by the heater to produce an.

atmosphere or medium of steam, adapted to engage a surface of anelectro-statically charged moving body.

3. A neutralizer for electro-static charges comprising. a body ofliquid, an electric heater supported above the surface of the liquid, awick dipping into the liquid and arranged to conduct liquid to theheater to be vaporized thereby and means for confining the vapor at thesides of the heated portion of the wick. v

4. A neutralizer for electro-static charges comprising a tank orreceptacle, a body of liquid therein, an electric heater supported abovethe surface of the liquid, a wick dipping into the liquid and arrangedto conduct liquid to the heater to be vaporized thereby and a cover forthe tank or receptacle having a longitudinal slot through which the wickextends and upwardly extending flange plates'adapted to confine thevapor at the sides of the heated portion of the wick.

5. A neutralizer for electro-static charges comprising an electricheater, a wick in contact with the heater and arranged to dip into abody of liquid, and means for confining the vapor at the sides of theheated portion of the wick whereby a relatively high temperatureconducting atmosphere is produced above the wick.

6. A neutralizer for electro-static charges comprising an electricheater, 2. wick in contactwith the heater and arranged." to dip into abody of liquid, andparallel plates arranged adjacent to the heatedportions of the wick on the respective sides of the heater for confiningthe Vapor Within the influence of the heater.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day ofOctober, in the year 1913.

WILLIAM S. HADAWAY, JR. l/Vitnesses:

G. R. QUIMBY, F. B. GRAVES.

